Hebrews 11 tells us about people who were a success to the kingdom of God. “By faith” they accomplished their God-given tasks. God gives us, in the verses that follow, the common denominator of their success.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Set before us in 2016 is our God-given race. God has gifted us with our own specific gifts and abilities to help us achieve His perfect will for our lives. Here is how we can put our talents to work:
1.) Run the Right Race. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Many people will get to the end of life and realize they ran the wrong race. They’ve climbed “the ladder of success” all the way to the top only to find out they were on the wrong ladder.
God’s race for Christians always coincides with His Word and is led by the Holy Spirit. To run this year, I must obey the clearly expressed commands of Scripture and also be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s specific calling and leading in my life.
“Lord, with a surrendered heart to your Word, what will you have me do for you this year?”
2.) Lay Aside Distractions. “Lay aside every weight, and the sin”
The Devil tries to keep us off course by filling our life with non-essentials. To win the race we must say “no” to the millions of different “weights” in this world so that we might say “yes” to God’s race, the race that is set before us.
Notice not all weights are sins. Most weights in life are “good things,” but they are not the “best thing.” Success in the Christian life comes from choosing the best things over the good things.
“Lord, will opportunity (x) help me accomplish what you have for my life?”
3.) Stay Focused On Jesus. “Looking to Jesus” & “Consider Him”
Running is a mental sport. If someone wins or loses a race, it happened first in their mind.
Consider yourself, and you will loose the race. I am a broken sinner apart from the grace of God. I cannot run the race without Jesus.
Consider others, and you will loose the race. “Comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise” (II Cor. 10:12). I have my own course to run. My course will not line up exactly with yours. So I can’t compare.
Consider the circumstances, and you will loose. There is never a “convenient season” to serve God. Now is the time to run.
Consider Jesus, and you will never “faint” in the race. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!” (Phil 4:13) When I look to Jesus I see the God-possible tasks in my life and say, “I can run!”
“Lord, help me keep my eyes on you this year. Help my Bible reading, my prayer life, my Church attendance, and strengthen my Christian fellowship.”